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Construct VR environments in After Effects

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  1. After Effects User Guide
  2. Beta releases
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  3. Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects 
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
  4. Workspaces
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
  5. Projects and compositions
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
  6. Importing footage
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
  7. Text and Graphics
    1. Text
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
    2. Motion Graphics
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
  8. Drawing, Painting, and Paths
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
  9. Layers, Markers, and Camera
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
  10. Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
    1. Animation
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
    2. Keyframe
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
    3. Motion tracking
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
    4. Keying
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
  11. Transparency and Compositing
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
  12. Adjusting color
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
  13. Effects and Animation Presets
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
  14. Expressions and Automation
    1. Expressions
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
    2. Automation
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
  15. Immersive video, VR, and 3D
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    9. Tracking 3D camera movement
    10. Cast and accept shadows
    11. Embedded 3D model animations
    12. Shadow Catcher
    13. 3D depth data extraction
    14. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    15. Work in 3D Design Space
    16. 3D Transform Gizmos
    17. Do more with 3D animation
    18. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    19. Add responsive design to your graphics 
  16. Views and Previews
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
  17. Rendering and Exporting
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
  18. Working with other applications
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
    2. Working with After Effects and other applications
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
  19. Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
    2. Frame.io
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
    3. Team Projects
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
  20. Memory, storage, performance
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing    
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
  21. Knowledge Base
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

After Effects offers native support for editing your VR 360 and VR 180 videos. You can use a host of dynamic transitions, effects, and titles to edit and enhance the immersive video experience. You can experiment with the different VR 360 and VR 180 tools in After Effects for a seamless post-production workflow.

Work with VR tools in After Effects

Note:

When you work with VR, you could run into memory limitations indicated by a banner that states - Requires GPU Acceleration. By default, Adobe video applications require approximately 1GB of memory for every 1K of horizontal resolution when working in VR. In After Effects 2018, you can reduce the requirements, called Aggressive Memory Management. To enable the setting, select  Preferences > Previews > GPU Information > Aggressive GPU memory use (for VR).

Tools to construct VR environments

The following are tools in After Effects you can use to edit your VR 360 and VR 180 videos:

The VR 360 and VR 180 tools in After Effects automate complex compositions and workflows for a seamless 360 production. These tools provide accurate results and reduce editing time.

Create VR Environment

Create VR Environment automates the process of comp creation and camera relationship setup. You can use it to automate aspects of VR authoring environment in After Effects.

Work with Create VR Environment

Work with Create VR Environment using the following steps:

  1. To launch Create VR Environment, select Composition > VR > Create VR Environment.

  2. In the Create VR Environment dialog, if you want to create a VR master from scratch, choose the Size of your master (1024x1024 works for most of the VR compositions). Set the Frame Rate and Duration of your VR Master, and click Create VR Master.

    Create VR Environment
    Create VR Environment

  3. In the Composition window, change the view to Custom View 1 and create your immersive video. You can select from the various immersive video and other effects in the Effects & Presets panel.

  4. Once you are ready with your composition, open the Create VR Environment dialog and click Generate VR Output. After Effects creates all the compositions, expressions, and adds cameras and distortions required to create a Cubic Map.

  5. To modify your VR Master and apply the changes to your VR comp, click Refresh VR Output in the Create VR Environment dialog. After Effects deletes all comps and recreates them based on the modifications, you made to your VR master.

VR output settings
VR output settings

Camera Settings:
  • Use 2-node camera: Select the option if you want to use a 2-node camera.
  • Use 3D Null camera Control: Select the option if you want to control your SkyBox Camera via a 3D Null layer.
  • Center camera: Select the option if you want to center-align the camera.
Advanced settings:
  • I am using 3D plugins: Select the option if you are using 3D plug-ins.
  • Use edge blending: Select the option when you use plugins that are not true 3D plug-ins.

Extract Cubemap

Extract Cubemap removes equirectangular distortion from 360-degree footage and extracts six separate camera views. The six camera views are positioned in a cube formation. You can do motion-tracking, object removal, add motion graphics, and vfx to the composition.

Work with Extract Cubemap

Work with Extract Cubemap using the following steps:

  1. To launch VR Extract Cubemap, select Composition > VR > Extract Cubemap.

  2. In the VR Extract Cubemap dialog, select a composition from the drop-down list, choose Conversion Resolution, and click Extract Cubemap.

    Extract Cubemap
    Extract Cubemap

  3. After Effects generates a cubemap output for your VR composition. Extract Cubemap adds a VR Master Camera along with six more camera views that are attached to the master camera. Six camera faces are also generated that strategically form a cube.

    Six faces that form the cube
    Six faces that form the cube

    Six faces in the Timeline panel
    Six faces in the Timeline panel

Adobe Immersive Environment

The Adobe Immersive Environment in After Effects allows you to preview how your 360 and 180 degree footage looks like in a VR head-mount display (HMD).

Supported VR headsets

After Effects supports the following VR headsets:

To use your VR headsets, ensure that your system meets the VR system requirements, and install SteamVR application. SteamVR is a virtual reality system that you need whether you are using the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. For more information, visit the SteamVR support page, and refer to the documentation that came with your headset.

Install and setup Steam

To install Steam, use the following steps:

  1. Go to store.steampowered.com/about, and click Install Steam Now. To install, follow the installer instructions.

  2. In Steam, create an account, or log into an existing one.

  3. From within Steam, download and install SteamVR.

    Note:

    If you are using a Windows Mixed Reality HMD, within Steam, download and install Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR.

  4. From within Steam, click Run Room Setup to set up your room.

    For more information, see the Steam documentation: Room Setup and SteamVR Tutorial.

Install VR headsets

To install:

  • HTC Vive: Follow the instructions that come with your HTC Vive headset. 
  • Oculus Rift: For information on downloading and installing Oculus Rift, see the Oculus Rift documentation.
To install any handheld controllers, follow instruction that come with your controllers.

Enable Adobe Immersive Environment in After Effects

Before you enable Adobe Immersive Environment, ensure that your headsets and controllers are working fine in SteamVR.

  1. In After Effects, select Preferences > Video Preview.

  2. In the Preferences dialog, enable the Enable Mercury Transmit option. In the Video Device section, enable the Adobe Immersive Environment option.
    Enable Adobe Immersive Environment
    Enable Adobe Immersive Environment

Preview footage in your headset

Choose the viewing option from the following options:

  • Theater Mode (Rectilinear): Previews the composition as a flat rectangle in an empty room, simulating the view of looking at a movie screen. 
  • 360 Monoscopic: Previews the composition as a monoscopic 360-degree field of view image.
  • 360 Over/Under: Previews the composition as a stereoscopic 360-degree field of view image. Assumes over/under layout in the composition.
  • 360 Side-by-Side: Previews the composition as a stereoscopic 360-degree field of view image. Assumes side-by-side layout in the composition.
  • 180 Over/Under: Previews the composition as a stereoscopic 180-degree field of view image. Assumes over/under layout in the composition.
  • 180 Side-by-Side: Previews the composition as a stereoscopic 180-degree field of view image. Assumes side-by-side layout in the composition.

The Video Preview Preferences options allows you to configure your preferences. To turn off preview to your HMD, disable Adobe Immersive Environment in Preferences > Video Preview.

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